NATURAL HISTORY
Publication Series
NHS – 02 - 02
January 2002
Key to the adult terrestrial mammals of the Southeastern United States Michael T. Mengak 1
KEY TO ORDERS
1. Head, body and tail covered by bony plates; teeth uniformly peg-like; lower jaw
(mandible) joined:
ORDER ZENARTHRA
Family Dasypodidae
Dasypus novemcinctus (Nine-banded Armadillo)
Head, body and tail without bony plates; teeth heterodont (2 or more types of
teeth) and not peg-like; lower jaw joined ----------------------------------------------------------------------2
2. Incisors 5/4; total number of teeth 50; posterior portion of mandible angled inward;
hallux (great toe on hind foot) opposable and lacking a nail:
ORDER DIDELPHIMORPHA
Family Didelphidae
Didelphis virginiana (Virginia Opossum)
Incisors 3/3 or fewer, absent in some species; posterior portion of mandible not angled
inward; hallux absent or not opposable and with a nail ----------------------------------------------------- 3
3. Forelimbs modified to form wings; fingers greatly elongated, more than 10 times
longer than toes; anterior end of skull has a U-shaped notch, which separates the
incisors into distinct halves:
ORDER CHIROPTERA (Bats) ---------------------------- 9
Forelimbs not modified to form wings; fingers, if present, more or less equal in length to
toes; anterior end of skull lacking a U-shaped notch ------------------------------------------------------- 4
1
Associate Professor – Wildlife Specialist, Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
1
4. Canines present and about equal in size to the incisors; fur (pelage) uniformly short
and soft, lacking guard hairs or spines;
ORDER INSECTIVORA ----------------------------- 26
Canines absent or, if present, obviously longer than incisors; fur with guard hairs or spines -------- 5
5. Incisors 1/1 or 2/1 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
Incisors 3/3 or 0/3 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
6. Incisors 2/1, second pair of incisors small, peg-like, and located immediately behind the
first pair; anterior part of facial bones web- or net-like; soles of feet mostly fur-covered:
ODRER LAGOMORPHA -------------------------------- 39
Incisors 1/1; anterior part of facial bones solid; soles of feet sparsely covered with fur or
naked:
ORDER RODENTIA -------------------------------------- 44
7. Feet terminating in toes with nails or claws; canine teeth present and round or oval in
cross-section:
ORDER CARNIVORA ------------------------------------ 78
Feet terminating in hooves; canine teeth absent or, if present, triangular in cross section ----------- 8
8. Single large hoof present on each foot; upper incisors present; nasals wide posteriorily:
ORDER PERISSODACTYLA
Family Equidae
Equus caballus (Horse)
Two large hooves present on each foot; upper incisors present or not, if present greatly
enlarged in tusk; nasals do not widen posteriorily:
ORDER ARTIODACTYLA ------------------------------ 96
2
KEY TO FAMILIES AND SPECIES
ORDER CHIROPTERA:
9. Tail extending beyond the posterior margin of the tail membrane (uroptagium) for more
than a third of its length; tragus (projection inside ear) absent; first and fifth digits of
feet with stiff bristles; incisors 1/2:
Family Molossidae ------------------------------------- 10
Tail completely enclosed, or nearly so, in uroptagium; tragus present; feet lacking distinct
bristles; incisors 1/3 or 2/3:
Family Vespertilionidae ------------------------------- 11
10. Forearm less than 55 mm in length; base of ears not joined at the midline of the head:
Tadarida brasiliensis (Brazilian Free-tailed Bat)
Forearm more than 55 mm in length; base of ears joined at the midline of the head:
Eumops glaucinus (Wagner’s Mastiff Bat)
11. Ear length greater than 25 mm; obvious raised glands present on sides of nose; dorsal
profile (from side view) of skull rounded; total number of teeth equals 36 ---------------------------- 12
Ear length less than 25 mm; nose glands absent; total number of teeth other than 36 or,
if 36, then dorsal profile of skull is flat (from side view) ------------------------------------------------- 13
12. First upper incisor with a single cusp; abdominal hairs uniformly brownish, lacking
distinct color change from root to tip:
Plecotus townsendii (Townsend’s Big-eared Bat)
First upper incisor with two cusps; abdominal hairs blackish at the base and grayish or
whitish at the tip:
Plecotus rafinesquii (Rafinesque’s Big-eared Bat)
13. Undersurface of wing at forearm covered with hair from body to free digit (thumb);
the single upper incisor in contact with the canine ----------------------------------------------------------14
Undersurface of wing at forearm not covered with hair from body to free digit; two upper
incisors present or, if only one, incisor separated from canine by a space ----------------------------- 17
14. Dorsal surface of interfemoral (dorsal surface of tail between femur) membrane entirely
covered with hair; white patch of hair present at the upper base of the free digit
(thumb) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
Interfemoral membrane with dense hair on proximal (near body) 1/3 of dorsal
surface (near body); lacking white patch of hair at the thumb:
Lasiurus intermedius (Northern Yellow Bat)
3
15. Forearm more than 45 mm in length; tips of ears with black rims; body color dark
frosted with white; skull length usually more than 15.5 mm:
Lasiurus cinereus (Hoary Bat)
Forearm less than 45 mm in length; tips of ears lacking black rims; body color
reddish or mahogany frosted with white; skull length usually less than 15.5 mm --------------------- 16
16. Overall body color reddish to reddish-tan; skull with a pronounced ridge anterior
(in front of) to eye socket (lacrimal ridge):
Lasiurus borealis (Red Bat)
Overall body color a deep mahogany with white frost; lacrimal ridge indistinct or
absent:
Lasiuru seminolus (Seminole Bat)
17. Long hair covering half or more of dorsal surface of interfemoral membrane; body hair
color black with whitish tips:
Lasionycteris noctivagans (Silver-haired Bat)
Hair absent or covering less than half of dorsal surface of interfemoral membrane;
body hair color not black with whitish tips------------------------------------------------------------------ 18
18. Forearm length more than 45 min; total number of teeth 32:
Eptesicus fuscus (Big Brown Bat)
Forearm length less than 45 mm; total number of teeth 30.34, or 38 ------------------------------------ 19
19. Tip of tail extends slightly beyond the margin of the interfemoral membrane; single
upper incisor is canine-like; total teeth 30:
Nycticeius humeralis (Evening Bat)
Tips of tail completely enclosed by interfemoral membrane; two upper incisors present,
not canine-like; total teeth 35 or 38 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20
20. Tragus (fleshy structure inside ear) broad, rounded at tip and less than half as long as
ear; wing membrane lacks pigment around forearm; total teeth 34:
Pipistrellus subflavus (Eastern Pipistrelle)
Tragus narrow, pointed at tip and more than half as long as ear; wing membrane completely
pigmented; total teeth 38 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21
21. Forearm 40 mm or more in length; skull with a prominent saggital (ridge down center
of skull) crest:
Myotis grisescens (Gray Bat or Gray Myotis)
Forearm 38 mm or less in length; saggital crest absent or weakly developed -------------------------- 22
4
22. Ears 16 mm or longer, extending well beyond tip of nose when laid forward; hairs on
dorsum 10 mm long or longer;
Myotis septentrionalis (Northern Myotis)
Ears 15 mm long or less, not extending beyond nose when laid forward; hairs on
dorsum less than 10mm long ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23
23. Calcar (elongated digit on hind foot) keeled ---------------------------------------------------------------- 24
Calcar lacking a keel ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25
24. Black mask across face; greatest length of skull less than 14.5 mm:
Myotis leibii (Eastern Small-footed Myotis)
Face lacking a dark mask; greatest length of skull more than 14.5 mm:
Myotis sodalis (Indiana Myotis)
25. Wing membranes attached to foot at the ankle; skull lacking any evidence of a saggital
(ridge along midline of skull) crest:
Myotis austroriparius (Southeastern Myotis)
Wing membranes attached to foot at base of toes; a weakly developed but noticeable
saggital crest present:
Myotis lucifugus (Little Brown Myotis)
ORDER INSECTIVORA
26. Front feet paddle-shaped and at least twice as wide as the rear feet; all teeth completely
white; zygomatic (bone around eye socket) arch and auditory bullae (enlarged area,
often ball shaped – on rear of skull) present:
Family Talpidae ------------------------------------- 27
Front feet slender and equal in width or smaller than rear feet; anterior teeth dark red or
black at the tips; zygomatic arch incomplete and auditory bullae absent:
Family Soricidae ------------------------------------ 29
27. Snout with a ring of fleshy appendages; first upper incisors project anteriorily; width
of palm less than length:
Condylura cristata (Star-nosed Mole)
Snout lacking fleshy appendages; first upper incisors not projected anteriorily; width
of palm equal or exceeding length -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28
5
28. Tail naked or scantily haired; auditory bullae complete; total teeth 40 or fewer; width of
palm about equal to length:
Scalopus aquaticus (Eastern Mole)
Tail heavily haired; auditory bullae incomplete; total teeth 44; width of palm greater
than length:
Parascalops breweri (Hairy-tailed Mole)
29.Tail length less than half that of body; two lower incisors on each side of jaw ------------------------- 30
Tail length equal to or greater than half of body length; a single lower incisor on each
side of jaw ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34
30. Total length less than 100 mm in adult; four or fewer unicuspid (with single crown)
teeth in upper jaw ------------------ 31
Total length more than 100 mm in adult; five unicuspid teeth in upper jaw (one may be tiny)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32
31. Tail more than twice as long as hind foot; ears conspicuous; dorsal pelage gray;
three unicuspid teeth in upper jaw:
Notiosorex crawfordii (Desert Shrew)
Tail less than twice as long as hind food; ears nearly hidden by fur; dorsal pelage
olive brown; four unicuspid teeth in upper jaw:
Cryptotis parva (Least Shrew)
32. Total length usually more than 110 mm; karyotype with a diploid number of 48-50
and a fundamental number of 48; in Georgia – above fall line;
Blarina brevicauda (Northern Short-tailed Shrew)
Total length usually less than 110 mm; karyotype not as above; in Georgia – below
the fall line ------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- 33
33. Karyotype with a diploid number of 38-46 and a fundamental number of 44 or 45:
Blarina carolinensis
(Southern Short-tailed Shrew)
Karyotype (chromosome number) with a diploid number of 52 and a fundamental
number of 60-62:
Blarina hylophaga (Eliot’s Short-tailed Shrew)
34. Third and fifth unicuspids reduced to tiny pegs and not visible when the skull is viewed
from the side; first and second unicuspids with an accessory inner cups:
Sorex hoyi (Pygmy Shrew)
All five unicuspids visible when skull is viewed from the side; first and second
unicuspids lacking an inner cusp ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35
6
35. Hind foot 18 mm of longer with a distinct fringe of stiff hairs:
Sorex palustris (Water Shrew)
Hind foot smaller than 18 mm and lacking a fringe of stiff hairs ---------------------------------------- 36
36. Third unicuspid larger than fourth; unicuspids with a distinctly pigmented internal ridge ----------- 37
Third unicuspid about equal to or slightly smaller than fourth; unicuspids lacking
pigmented inner ridge ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38
37. Total length 111 mm or greater; greatest width of skull about 9 mm; total length of
skull about 19 mm:
Sorex fumeus (Smokey Shrew)
Total length less than 111 mm; condylobasal (total length) length less than 17 mm:
Sorex cinereus (Masked Shrew)
38. Dorsal color brownish or reddish; condylobasal length less than 17 mm:
Sorex longirostris (Southeastern Shrew)
Dorsal color grayish; condylobasal length greater than 17 mm:
Sorex dispar (Long-tailed Shrew)
ORDER LAGOMORPHA
39. Hind foot more than 110 mm in length; --------------------------------------------------------------------- 40
Hind foot less than 110 mm in length; interparietal not fused and distinct ----------------------------- 41
40. Ear more than 80 mm long; basilar length of skull greater than 67 mm:
Lepus californicus (Black-tailed Jackrabbit)
Ear less than 80 mm long; basilar length of skull less than 67 mm:
Lepus americanus (Snowshoe hare)
41. Anterior extension of supraoribital process (=protruding bone above eye socket)
present; nape patch behind ears brightly rust-colored:
Sylvilagus floridanus (Eastern Cottontail)
Anterior extension of supraorbital process absent or present only as a tiny knob; nape
patch behind ears pale and indistinct ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 42
42. Posterior extension of supraorbital process free from fusion with skull; black patch
present between ears:
Sylvilagus transitionalis (New England Cottontail)
Posterior extension of supraorbital process fused to skull for most of extent, but some
specimens with small foramina; lacking a black patch between the ears ------------------------------- 43
7
43. Underside of tail white; ears longer than 60 mm; hind feet 100 mm or more in length:
Sylvilagus aquaticus (Swamp Rabbit)
Underside of tail brownish or grayish; ears shorter than 60 mm; hind feet less than
100 mm long:
Sylvilagus palustris (Marsh Rabbit)
ORDER RODENTIA
44. Opening in skull anterior to eye socket (infraorbital opening) larger than foramen
magnum (opening in back of skull for spinal column); total length greater than 700 mm
but tail not paddle-shaped ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46
Infraorbital opening smaller than foramen magnum; total length usually less than
700 mm but, if greater than 700 mm, then tail is paddle-shaped ----------------------------------------- 45
45. Infraorbital foramen vertically elongate and either oval or V-shaped when viewed from
front of skull ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 47
Infraorbital foramen small and round ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 70
46. Dorsal pelage with many spines and hollow quills; paraoccipital processes not elongated
past the plane of the upper molars; toes without webs:
Family Erethizontidae
Erethizon dorsatum (Porcupine)
Dorsal pelage with some long stiff hairs, but lacking hollow quills; paraoccipital
processes elongated past the plane of the upper molars; toes webbed:
Family Myocastoridae
Myocastor coypus (Nutria)
47. Infraorbital foramen oval when viewed from the front of the skull; tail very long,
usually 1.25x body length or greater:
Family Zapodidae ---------------------------------- 48
Infraorbital foramen wider at top than at bottom creating a V-shape when viewed from
front of skull; tail usually less than 1.25x body length and sometimes shorter than body:
Family Muridae ------------------------------------ 49
48. Cheek teeth 4/3 with a tiny extra upper molar; tip of tail not white:
Zapus hudsonius (Meadow Jumping Mouse)
Cheek teeth 3/3 and all about the same size; tip of tail usually white:
Napaeozapus insignis (Woodland Jumping Mouse)
8
49. Cusps of upper molars in three longitudinal rows ---------------------------------------------------------- 50
Cusps of upper molars in two longitudinal rows or molars lack cusps ---------------------------------- 52
50. Total length less than 250 mm; length of skull less than 20 mm; skull lacking
temporal ridges:
Mus musculus (House Mouse)
Total length greater than 250 mm; length of skull greater than 25 mm; skull with
distinct temporal ridges ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 51
51. Tail as long as or longer than head and body; temporal ridges on each side of skull
bowed outward:
Rattus rattus (Black Rat)
Tail shorter than head and body; temporal ridges on each side of skull more or less
parallel and not bowed outward:
Rattus norvegicus (Norway Rat)
52. Cheek teeth with two rows of alternately-placed triangular prisms and lacking cusps;
tail usually less than one-third of total length but, if longer, then total length greater
than 285 mm ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53
Cheek teeth with two rows of cusps (cusps may be worn smooth in old animals; if so,
transverse lophs {side-to-side ridges) present or teeth outlined with an even border
of enamel); tail length usually greater than one-third of total length -------------------------------------60
53. Total length greater than 285 mm; tail scantily haired and appears scaly; postorbital
(behind eye socket) processes project into orbit like square-cornered, thin-edged shelves;
toes on hind feet partially webbed ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 54
Total length less than 285 mm; tail with conspicuous hairs and not scaly-looking;
postorbital processes not shelf-like projections into orbit; hind feet without webbed toes ----------- 55
54. Tail vertically flattened; forefeet with four clawed toes and a thumb with a nail; basal
length of skull greater than 50 mm; first lower molar with six triangular projections
between anterior and posterior loops:
Ondatra zibethicus (Muskrat)
Tail round; forefeet with five clawed toes; basal length of skull less than 50 mm; first
lower molar with five triangular projections between the end loops:
Neofiber alleni (Round-tailed Muskrat)
9
55. Posterior border of palate a straight, thin-edged shelf extending directly between
the two posterior molars; dorsum usually with a darker and sometimes reddishappearing central zone that contrasts with lighter grayish sides:
Clethrionomys gapperi
(Southern Red-backed Vole)
Posterior border of palate not straight and supported by a median spine; dorsum
lacking an obviously darker central zone ------------------------------------------------------------------- 56
56. Upper incisors with groove down face; ears extend well beyond level of fur on head;
tail length about equal to hind foot length and dorsal pelage coarse:
Synaptomys cooperi (Southern Bog Lemming)
Upper incisors without groove; ears small and more or less hidden in fur; tail length
greater than hind foot or, if about equal, then dorsal pelage soft and fine ------------------------------ 57
57. Tail length about equal to hind foot length; dorsal pelage soft and fine; last upper
molar with two closed triangles:
Microtus pinetorum (Woodland Vole)
Tail length greater than hind foot length; last upper molar with more than two closed
triangles or, if with only two closed triangles, then pelage coarse --------------------------------------- 58
58. Third upper molar with five closed triangles; face from eyes to nose yellowish or
reddish orange:
Microtus chrotorrhinus (Rock Vole)
Third upper molar with two or three closed triangles; facial area not yellowish or
reddish orange -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 59
59. Third upper molar with three closed triangles; tail length usually much greater than
twice the hind foot length; ventral fur silvery-gray:
Microtus pennsylvanicus (Meadow Vole)
Third upper molar with two closed triangles; tail length about equal to twice the hind
foot length; ventral fur yellowish or cream-colored:
Microtus ochrogaster (Prairie Vole)
60. Upper incisors with a longitudinal groove; tail scantily haired and appearing naked
with scaly rings-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 61
Upper incisors smooth; tail moderately haired and not appearing naked and scaly ------------------- 62
10
61.Tail length much greater than head and body length; dentine pattern of last lower
molar S-shaped:
Reithrodontomys fulvescens
(Fulvous Harvest Mouse)
Tail length less than head and body length; dentine pattern of last lower molar C-shaped:
Reithrodontomys humulis
(Eastern Harvest Mouse)
62. Total length greater than 310 mm in adults; total length divided by hind foot length
exceeds 9.3; transverse lophs on all upper molars form an E-shaped pattern:
Neotoma floridana (Eastern Woodrat)
Total length less than 310 mm; total length divided by hind foot length less than 9.3;
outline pattern of transverse lophs on upper molars various, but not E-shaped ------------------------ 63
63. Skull with prominent supraorbital (above eye socket) ridges that extend posteriorily
as temporal ridges; pelage dark and coarse ------------------------------------------------------------------ 64
Skull without supraorbital ridges; pelage dense and soft -------------------------------------------------- 65
64. Upper molars flat-surfaced and with side-to-side ridges forming an S-shaped pattern;
feet black; ears extend well above the pelage of the head and shoulders:
Sigmodon hispidus (Hispid Cotton Rat)
Upper molars with pointed cusps and outline of teeth not S-shaped; feet white; ears
nearly buried in coarse fur of head and neck:
Oryzomys palustris (Marsh Rice Rat)
65. Ears same color as pelage of head and dorsum; dorsal color golden with reddish tint;
posterior palatine foramen (closer to posterior border of palate than to anterior
palatine foramen):
Ochrotomys nuttalli (Golden Mouse)
Ears dusky and usually darker than pelage of head and dorsum; dorsal color brownish
or grayish; posterior palatine foramina about midway between posterior border of
palate and anterior palatine foramina ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 66
66. Five plantar pads on hind foot; hind foot usually 24 mm or larger:
Podomys floridanus (Florida Mouse)
Six plantar pads on hind foot; hind foot usually less than 24 mm ---------------------------------------- 67
11
67. Total length less than 154 mm; hind foot less than 19 mm; dorsum fawn colored with a
grayish or brownish tint and slightly darker toward midline:
Peromyscus polionotus (Oldfield Mouse)
Total length greater than 154 mm; hind foot usually larger than 19 mm; dorsum brown
or gray and darker toward midline but not fawn-colored -------------------------------------------------- 68
68. Tail length approximates or exceeds half of total length; tail length usually less than 65
mm; tail distinctly bicolor; skull length less than 22 mm:
Peromyscus maniculatus
(Deer Mouse)
Tail length much less than half of total length; tail length more than 65 mm; tail
indistinctly bicolor; skull length greater than 22 mm ------------------------------------------------------ 69
69. Hind foot less than 22 mm; body length less than 95 mm; skull length less than 25 mm;
tarsal joint of heel is white:
Peromyscus leucopus
(White-footed Mouse)
Hind foot more than 23 mm; body length greater than 95 mm; skull length greater
than 25 mm; tarsal joint of heel is dark like leg:
Peromyscus gossypinus
(Cotton Mouse)
70. Tail densely furred; skull with prominent postorbital processes:
Family Sciuridae ------------------------------------ 71
Tail naked or scantily haired; skull lacking postorbital processes ----------------------------------------77
71. Anterior surfaces of incisors white; supraorbital processes at right angles to skull;
tail short, less than 25% of total length:
Marmota monax (Woodchuck)
Anterior surfaces of incisors yellow: supraorbital processes at acute angles to skull; tail length
greater than 25% of total length ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 72
72. Lateral furred membrane (patagium) connecting front and hind limbs on sides of body;
interorbital region narrow and indented on each side with a V-shaped notch -------------------------- 73
Patagium absent; interorbital region relatively broad and not indented on each side with
a V-shaped notch ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 74
12
73. Dorsal pelage gray or grayish; total length usually less than 260 mm; skull usually less
than 36 mm:
Glaucomys volans (Southern Flying Squirrel)
Dorsal pelage brown or brownish; total length usually greater than 260 mm; skull usually
greater than 36 mm:
Glaucomys sabrinus (Northern Flying Squirrel)
74. Dorsum with two longitudinal light stripes; infraorbital opening a foramen in the zygomatic
plate rather than a canal that passes between the zygomatic plate and the side of the rostrum:
Tamias striatus (Eastern Chipmunk)
Dorsum without light stripes; infraorbital opening a canal that passes between the zygomatic
plate and the side of the rostrum ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 75
75. Total length less than 400 mm; anterior border of orbit directly above first large molar-like
tooth (last premolar):
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
(Red Squirrel)
Total length greater than 400 mm; anterior border of orbit directly above second molar-like
tooth (first molar) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 76
76. With four upper molar-like teeth on each side of jaw; hairs of tail tipped with yellow:
Sciurus niger (Fox Squirrel)
With five upper molar-like teeth on each side of jaw; hairs of tail tipped with white:
Sciurus carolinensis (Gray Squirrel)
77. Tail paddle-shaped, naked and scaly; digits on hind foot connected by a web; infraorbital canal
inconspicuous, opening on side of rostrum anterior to zygomatic plate; without external cheek
pouches; incisors smooth:
Family Castoridae
Castor Canadensis
(Beaver)
Tail not paddle-shaped and scantily to densely furred; hind feet without webs; infraorbital
canal small and round or slit-like; externally opening, fur-lined cheek pouches present on
either side of mouth; face of incisors with two longitudinal grooves (bisulcate):
Family Geomyidae
Geomys pinetis
(Southeastern Pocket Gopher)
13
ORDER CARNIVORA
78. Six upper and seven lower molar-like (premolars and molars) teeth ------------------------------------ 79
Molar-like teeth other than 6/7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 84
79. Rostrum short and broad; upper tooth rows parallel; total length of skull greater than
310 mm; tail vestigial; hind foot with five toes:
Family Ursidae
Ursus americanus (Black Bear)
Rostrum long and narrow; upper tooth rows not parallel; total length of skull less than
300 mm; tail long and bushy; hind foot with four toes:
Family Canidae -------------------------------------- 80
80. Postorbital processes thickened and convex dorsally; tail lacking both a black mid-dorsal
stripe of stiff hairs and a white tip ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 81
Postorbital processes thin and concave dorsally; tail with either a black mid-dorsal stripe
formed by stiff hairs or a white tip --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 83
81. Greatest length of skull usually more than 250 mm; nose pad (rhinarium) with a diameter
of 31 mm or more:
Canis lupus (Gray Wolf)
Greatest length of skull usually less than 250 mm; rhinarium with a diameter less than
31 mm ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 82
82. Anteroposterior (front-to-back) diameter of canine more than 11 mm; diameter of
rhinarium more than 25 mm; heel pad more than 32 mm in diameter:
Canis niger (Red Wolf)
Anteroposterior diameter of canine less than 11 mm; diameter of rhinarium less than
25 mm; heel pad less than 32 mm in diameter:
Canis latrans (Coyote)
83. Prominent temporal ridges meet at back of skull in a U-shaped pattern; tail with a black
mid-dorsal stripe:
Urocyon cinereoargenteus (Gray Fox)
Prominent temporal ridges meet at back of skull in a V-shaped pattern; tail with a distinct white tip:
Vulpes vulpes (Red Fox)
84. Molar-like teeth 6/6; body with a black facial mask and a large, bushy tail strongly
marked with black and white rings:
Family Procyonidae
Procyon lotor (Raccoon)
14
Molar-like teeth other than 6/6; body without a black facial mask and tail lacking
ring-like pattern ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 85
85. Molar-like teeth either 3/3 or 4/3; total teeth 30 or less; rostrum shortened and top of
skull rounded when viewed from side:
Family Felidae --------------------------------------- 86
Molar-like teeth 4/5, 5/5, or 5/6; total teeth 32 or more; rostrum not shortened and top
of skull not convex when viewed from side:
Family Mustelidae ---------------------------------- 87
86. Tail more than 30% of head and body length; 4 upper molar-like teeth; total teeth 30:
Felis concolor (Mountain Lion)
Tail less than 30% of head and body length; 3 upper molar-like teeth; total teeth 28:
Lynx rufus (Bobcat)
87. Pelage with a conspicuous black-and-white pattern; palate not extending much
beyond posterior edge of last molars ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 88
Pelage with other than a black-and-white pattern; palate extending well beyond posterior
edge of last of last molars -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 89
88. Dorsum with white spots or four or more line of broken white stripes; total length less
than 500 mm; top of skull flat in profile:
Spilogale putorius (Eastern Spotted Skunk)
Dorsum with two continuous white stripes that may join near the head; total length
greater than 500 mm; top of skull convex in profile:
Memphitis mephitis (Striped Skunk)
89. Feet broad and webbed; molar-like teeth 5/5:
Lutra Canadensis (River Otter)
Feet not broad and not webbed; molar-like teeth other than 5/5 ----------------------------------------- 90
90. Molar-like teeth 5/6; hind foot 75 mm or longer and with top of head brown ------------------------- 91
Molar-like teeth 4/5; hind foot smaller than 75 mm but, if larger, then top of head with
a white stripe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 92
91. With orange on throat and chest; skull length less than 95 mm and rear of skull with
round profile:
Martes Americana (Marten)
15
Without orange on throat or chest; skull length more than 95 mm and rear of skull
with angular profile:
Martes pennanti (Fisher)
92. Braincase triangular and skull more than 90 mm long; last upper molar triangular; with
a white strip on top of head:
Taxidea taxus (Badger)
Braincase elongate but skull less than 90 mm long; last upper molar dumbbell-shaped;
without a white stripe on top of head ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 93
93. Tail with a distinct black tip ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 94
Tail without a black tip ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 95
94. Size small, body length usually less than 200 mm; tail length usually less than 45% of
head and body length:
Mustela erminea (Ermine)
Size large, body length usually greater than 200 mm; tail length usually more than 45%
of head and body length:
Mustela frenata (Long-tailed Weasel)
95. Size small, total length less than 300 mm; skull less than 40 mm long; tail about
25 mm long:
Mustela nivalis (Least Weasel)
Size large, total length more than 300 mm; skull more than 40 mm long; tail much
more than 25 mm long:
Mustela vison (Mink)
ORDER ARTIODACTYLA
96. Canines present and directed outward or upward; molar-like teeth bunodont (with
pointed cusps); snout flattened terminally; body sparsely haired:
Family Suidae
Sus scrofa {Wild Pig}
Canines absent or, if present, small and not directed outward or upward; molar-like
teeth selenodont (with swirl-like pattern of enamel on occlusal surfaces); snout
not flattened terminally; pelage dense:
Family Cervidae ----------------------------------97
97. Premaxillae (upper jaw) elongated and nasals short so that distance from front of nasals
to tip of rostrum roughly equals distance from back of nasals to occipital bond; antlers,
if present, flattened in cross-section through stem:
Alces alces (Moose)
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Premaxillae short and nasals elongated so that nasals extend most of the length of
the rostrum; antlers, if present, round in cross-section through stem ------------------------------------ 98
98.Upper canines present; antlers, if present, usually longer than length of head; mane
present:
Cervus elaphus (Wapiti or Elk)
Upper canines absent; antlers, if present, never exceeding the length of the head;
mane absent:
Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer)
Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
Athens, Georgia 30602-2152
Telephone 706.542.2686 Fax 706.542.8356
In compliance with federal law, including the provisions of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act
of 1964, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of
Georgia does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, or military service in its
administration of educational policies, programs, or activities; its admissions policies; scholarship and loan programs; athletic or other
University-administered programs; or employment.. In addition, the University does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation
consistent with the University non-discrimination policy. Inquiries or complaints should be directed to the director of the Equal opportunity
Office, Peabody Hall, 290 South Jackson Street, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602.Telephone 706-542-7912 (V/TDD).Fax 706542-2822
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